Cedar Bridge County Park and Riverside County Park provide key glamping access points in Osage, Iowa. The region sits in the Upper Midwest agricultural belt at around 1,168 feet elevation with temperatures that range from winter lows below freezing to summer highs around 83°F. Multiple county-managed parks offer camping between the Cedar River and Little Cedar River watersheds, creating opportunities for water recreation throughout the summer months.
What to do
Fishing opportunities: Cedar Bridge County Park provides direct access to the Cedar River with sandy river bottom. "You will love this park. There are about 20 self-serve sites with electric and water. Self serve firewood. Sitting right on the Cedar River, it's a great location to kayak and tube," notes camper Tim M.
Swimming areas: Many campgrounds feature designated swimming spots for cooling off during summer. At Halvorson Park, visitors enjoy "a small swimming beach, nice bathrooms and showers dump station. Saw many people swimming off their boat/pontoons as the bottom is sandy and the current is very very slow," according to Kris E.
Hiking trail systems: Several parks connect to extensive trail networks. Airport Lake Park features walking paths around the lake perimeter. Paul W. reports that the "camper spots were huge with plenty of space between sites. Fire ring was on a cement slab. Small lake for fishing and swimming within walking distance."
What campers like
Clean facilities: Riverside County Park receives consistent praise for maintenance standards. Paul H. notes, "40 site Totally renovated 2 years ago nestled along the little Cedar river above the dam. New Shower house/bathrooms. Natural themed kids play area including a huge tree house."
Affordable rates: Many campers appreciate reasonable pricing at county parks near Osage. At Pilot Knob State Park, Eric J. found that "Beautiful campground. Well maintained. Nice facilities. You can't beat this place for the price. Nice hiking trails too."
Spacious sites: Several campgrounds feature well-spaced campsites that provide privacy. At Airport Lake Park Campground, a visitor mentioned, "Camper spots were huge with plenty of space between sites. Fire ring was on a cement slab. Bathrooms were clean. Good cell phone signal."
What you should know
Seasonal considerations: Most campgrounds operate from April through October with limited winter access. "Clear lake state park is a nice campground. It does get very busy during peak season and traffic is continuous," Tiffany shares about camping near Osage.
Reservation requirements: Some parks require advance booking while others operate first-come, first-served. At Cedar Bridge, Tim M. reports: "We showed up at 8:00 on a Friday evening and spots were available!" But this can vary by season and campground.
Utility hookup limitations: Different campgrounds offer varying levels of service. Clear Lake State Park has "limited full hook up sites. I wish there were more full hook ups that you could reserve," according to Becky M., who also noted the "playground was fun for the kids, nice beach access!"
Tips for camping with families
Playground access: Many campgrounds include child-friendly play areas. At Riverside County Park, a visitor notes there's a "Very creative natural play park for children to play on. Full hook up sites with a very reasonable nightly rate."
Beach swimming options: Several locations feature sandy-bottom swimming areas ideal for children. Airport Lake Park offers "a small lake for fishing and swimming within walking distance," according to one camper.
Nature exploration opportunities: Forestville Mystery Cave State Park provides educational experiences within driving distance. One visitor shared: "There are so many activities to do both within the park and surrounding areas, but my most favorite thing to do was walk the endless miles of hiking trails."
Tips from RVers
Site leveling: Some campgrounds have more level sites than others. Jacob B. at Pilot Knob State Park found "For $12/night on a 30AMP hookup, I really can't complain. This is my first of many stops in the new RV, needed a place to camp out before getting it serviced the next day."
Pull-through availability: Many campers appreciate easy access sites. At Albert Lea KOA, Bob P. reported "spots were easy to pull into, the bathrooms were really clean, and it was surprisingly quiet despite the proximity to the highway."
Dump station access: Most county parks provide dump stations for RVers. Tim M. noted that Cedar Bridge Park offers a "dump station and dumpsters near the exit. Clean bathrooms and showers. Lots of space at each campsite."
